Kaki King at the Mercury Lounge

Years ago, Kaki King (born Katherine Elizabeth King in Atlanta, Georgia) supported herself by selling drinks at the Mercury Lounge and busking in New York subway stations. The Brooklyn-based artist began recording, and these led to worldwide tours, solo and with a band, supporting Eric Johnson, the Foo Fighters, the Mountain Goats and others. Rolling Stone in 2006 listed her among "The New Guitar Gods." Then 26 years old, she was the sole woman and youngest artist on that list. She has recorded six albums and two EPs, and scored music for television and film, receiving a Golden Globe nomination with Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook for the soundtrack of Sean Penn's Into the Wild.

King returned to the Mercury Lounge tonight to perform two sets, one solo and one with a small band. The band consisted of a drummer and her frequent collaborator, Dan Brantigan, who played a trumpet, synthesizers and programs, including a unique breath-controlled trumpet synthesizer. The two concerts celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the release of her debut acoustic album, Everybody Loves You. King sang several soft indie-sounding songs, but the spell-binding feature of the performance was that without a lot of flash, King demonstrated that she is a student of the guitar, combining a variety of previously unconnected techniques. For instance, one composition launched with classical flamenco fingering before smoothly transitioning into a jazz fusion blend and concluding with more chamber-esque progressions. On some of her rocking songs, she borrowed influences from heavy metal riffs and grooves. She played melodies with finger-style "fanning," fret tapping and funky slap bass percussion techniques, using imaginative double open tunings and multiple tunings on acoustic, electric and, for an encore, a lap steel guitar. She also incorporated electronic sound layering and looping. Overall, her sonic vision defies definition, but King is one of the most amazing guitarists you will ever see.